Review Summary:

Derived from the French word galant which translates to chivalrous, the Mitsubishi Galant is a Japanese sedan that has been around since 1969 and has been through nine distinct generations. Facing competition from the Nissan Altima and Kia Optima, the Galant is by far the most powerful of the lot.

Pros

Reasonably priced Powerful engine Simplicity of the interior

Cons

Is in dire need of a make-over

Looks

Ten years on, the ninth generation Mitsubishi Galant is a little long in the tooth, but with a mesh grille upfront, a spoiler on its boot decklid and five twin-spoke alloys, it’s still visually appealing. Sure, it isn’t as stunning as the Kia Optima, but hey, at least it isn’t artless like the Nissan Altima. When admiring the Galant from the sides, its raised boot and descending form give it a sportier stance and it sure is a sneaky way of suggesting the performance hidden under its hood.

Feels

We’ve always steered away from the tacky wood finishes on economy vehicles and continue to do so, which is why we’d stay far away from the red Finesse Burl trim and opt for the black instead. At least this way, it looks less like plastic and more like marble. It’s all quite simple within the 2014 Mitsubishi Galant, with the techiest thing being a 7 inch navigation screen that sits atop the dashboard. The Ralliart treatment spruces up the interior with minor improvements, the best of which is a white instrument cluster background as opposed to black.

Engineering

Fitted with ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear, stopping power is an equal match to the acceleration provided by the V6 engine. With the aid of Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), the Galant balances brake force between the front and rear wheels depending on surfaces and vehicle load to ensure progressive and consistent performance.

What’s on offer?

The Galant is powered by either a 2.4 litre engine or a 3.8 litre V6. Mated to a 4 speed automatic transmission, the 2.4 litre churns out 156 horsepower and 213 Nm of torque. The 3.8 litre ups the game to 272 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque, along with a 5 speed automatic transmission. Prices start at an extremely reasonable AED 60,000 and go upwards before stopping at AED 80,000 for the top of the line 3.6 litre variant.

Summing it…

The Kia Optima is in all likelihood the best equipped of the three, and thus the AED 66,000 starting price seems justified. On the other hand, the overpriced Nissan Altima costs AED 77,000 and I have absolutely no idea why. So it really is a no-brainer when I say the Mitsubishi Galant is the one I’d take home, because with a starting price of AED 60,000 you’d have to be out of your mind to let it slide.

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